Friday, July 4, 2014

(Mod: Being caught up in the meaning of this day and all, I was reading some of the fascinating information to be found on a website called Constitution Facts.com. I came across the following, which piqued my interest. The question being asked there is how exactly did the 4th of July become the most important non-religious holiday on the American calendar. Like everything else, there had to have been some kind of a history to all of this. There always is, and as usual it is not quite what I'd thought it would be.)The Story of the Fourth of JulyThe Declaration of Independence

We celebrate American Independence Day on the Fourth of July every year. We think of July 4, 1776, as a day that represents the Declaration of Independence and the birth of the United States of America as an independent nation.

But July 4, 1776 wasn't the day that the Continental Congress decided to declare independence (they did that on July 2, 1776).

It wasn’t the day we started the American Revolution either (that had happened back in April 1775).

And it wasn't the day Thomas Jefferson wrote the first draft of the Declaration of Independence (that was in June 1776). Or the date on which the Declaration was delivered to Great Britain (that didn't happen until November 1776). Or the date it was signed (that was August 2, 1776).

So what did happen on July 4, 1776?

The Continental Congress approved the final wording of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. They'd been working on it for a couple of days after the draft was submitted on July 2nd and finally agreed on all of the edits and changes.

July 4, 1776, became the date that was included on the Declaration of Independence, and the fancy handwritten copy that was signed in August (the copy now displayed at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.) It’s also the date that was printed on the Dunlap Broadsides, the original printed copies of the Declaration that were circulated throughout the new nation. So when people thought of the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776 was the date they remembered.

In contrast, we celebrate Constitution Day on September 17th of each year, the anniversary of the date the Constitution was signed, not the anniversary of the date it was approved. If we’d followed this same approach for the Declaration of Independence we’d being celebrating Independence Day on August 2nd of each year, the day the Declaration of Independence was signed!

How did the Fourth of July become a national holiday?

For the first 15 or 20 years after the Declaration was written, people didn’t celebrate it much on any date. It was too new and too much else was happening in the young nation. By the 1790s, a time of bitter partisan conflicts, the Declaration had become controversial. One party, the Democratic-Republicans, admired Jefferson and the Declaration. But the other party, the Federalists, thought the Declaration was too French and too anti-British, which went against their current policies.

By 1817, John Adams complained in a letter that America seemed uninterested in its past. But that would soon change.

After the War of 1812, the Federalist party began to come apart and the new parties of the 1820s and 1830s all considered themselves inheritors of Jefferson and the Democratic-Republicans. Printed copies of the Declaration began to circulate again, all with the date July 4, 1776, listed at the top. The deaths of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams on July 4, 1826, may even have helped to promote the idea of July 4 as an important date to be celebrated.

Celebrations of the Fourth of July became more common as the years went on and in 1870, almost a hundred years after the Declaration was written, Congress first declared July 4 to be a national holiday as part of a bill to officially recognize several holidays, including Christmas. Further legislation about national holidays, including July 4, was passed in 1939 and 1941.(Mod: They also have a pretty cool feature called "Which Founding Father would you vote for?" After having taken the quiz it turns out my candidate would be James Madison. I'm good with that. Here's the link. Have a great 4th of July. Muckraking resumes here on The Tattler first thing tomorrow. We're all about using freedom here. It can be as much fun as a parade, and it is certainly easier to find a good seat.)This is kind of sad

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Crazy: This American Town Is Trying To Destroy The Spirit Of The 4th Of July With These Signs (WesternJounalism.comlink):As one of America’s most treasured holidays, many traditions come along with the annual celebration of the country’s independence. Barbecues, beers, and fireworks are on the July 4 checklist – for most people, that is.

At the very least, one would expect their privacy to be respected as they relax and enjoy time with their friends and family, right?

Well, apparently, Lakewood, Ohio, did not get the memo.

Signs have been posted across the town parks, forbidding anyone from barbecuing, bringing their dogs, drinking alcohol, or even launching fireworks (among other things). Coolers and bags, the sign warns, will also be searched by local police to ensure these rules are kept. To top it off, the whole park is under video surveillance.

Sounds like fun, right?

I’m not sure if this is the way our Founding Fathers intended the day to be celebrated.

If you’re anywhere near Lakewood, you might want to consider going to the next town over to spend your day. That is, unless you feel like having absolutely no fun (or even freedom) on the day that celebrates that very thing.

Well, either way, no matter where you celebrate this year, Happy Independence Day, everyone!

PridePride is an inwardly directed emotion that carries two common meanings. With a negative connotation, pride refers to an inflated sense of one's personal status or accomplishments, often used synonymously with hubris. With a positive connotation, pride refers to a satisfied sense of attachment toward one's own or another's choices and actions, or toward a whole group of people, and is a product of praise, independent self-reflection, or a fulfilled feeling of belonging. Philosophers and social psychologists have noted that pride is a complex secondary emotion which requires the development of a sense of self and the mastery of relevant conceptual distinctions (e.g., that pride is distinct from happiness and joy) through language-based interaction with others. Some social psychologists identify it as linked to a signal of high social status. In contrast pride could also be defined as a disagreement with the truth.

Hubris and group prideHubris itself is associated with more intra-individual negative outcomes and is commonly related to expressions of aggression and hostility (Tangney, 1999). As one might expect, Hubris is not necessarily associated with high self-esteem but with highly fluctuating or variable self-esteem. Excessive feelings of hubris have a tendency to create conflict and sometimes terminating close relationships, which has led it to be understood as one of the few emotions without any clear positive or adaptive functions (Rhodwalt, et al.). Several studies by UC Davis psychologist Cynthia Picket, have shown that groups that boast, gloat or denigrate others tend to have low social status or be vulnerable to threats from other groups. Claiming that "hubristic, pompous displays of group pride might actually be a sign of group insecurity as opposed to a sign of strength," she believes that those that express pride by humbly focusing on members' efforts and hard work tend to have high social standing in both the public and personal eyes.

In almost every list of the seven deadly sins, pride (Latin, superbia), or hubris (Greek), is considered the original and most serious of the seven deadly sins, and the source of the others. It is identified as believing that one is essentially better than others, failing to acknowledge the accomplishments of others, and excessive admiration of the personal self (especially holding self out of proper position toward God). Dante's definition was "love of self perverted to hatred and contempt for one's neighbour". In Jacob Bidermann's medieval miracle play, Cenodoxus, pride is the deadliest of all the sins and leads directly to the damnation of the titulary famed Parisian doctor. In perhaps the best-known example, the story of Lucifer, pride (his desire to compete with God) was what caused his fall from Heaven, and his resultant transformation into Satan. In Dante's Divine Comedy, the penitents are burdened with stone slabs on their necks which force them to keep their heads bowed.

What the Tattler needs to do is is establish the Tattler Rating from "A" to "F" and pick votes that come before the council that the Tattler will grade (maybe 20 a year). If you are 90% to 100% your get an "A", 80% to 89% a "B" and so on.

So on Tuesday there are two votes to count....a water moratorium and a building moratorium (phase 3 water conservation will pass unanimously and isnt in dispute) so some council members will come away with an "A", "C" or "F" based on these two votes. Call it the Tattler Tattoo Project.

2:06 I don,t know if your new to Sierra Madre or just never appreciated how good our water was for the last 100+ years.Those of us who do realize that are willing to fine those that increase our dependence on the yellow water.If we do not ration water we will be stuck with DWP potty water forever

Two successive water rate hikes didn't cut water use. This is just an excuse for yet another city hall money grab. Believe me, people will be very very upset. Financial punish the residents politics when the city is shelling out $36,000 a year for health plans for wrench jockeys ain't gonna fly.

So you can cut your water use another 30%? On top of the savings you have already made, 2:33? Trust me, you will be fined. What this really is about is three sellout council members playing politics with the building moratorium. Very sad that the city's affairs are in the hands of these dishonest bums.

I am down to about 11 units every 2 months for my 75ftx150ft. lot. My back lawn is gone,my front lawn I am allowing to die, I will try to save 2 of my Avocado trees and my Myers lemon. The city was purging the fire plug across the street,I filled 5 trash cans and many buckets with water,I recycle water from my kitchen sink to my plants,I pee in the backyard I am at the bottom limit of usage I am cut to the limit. The city will not require me to cut to less than 10 units. I am a family of 4 btw....

The city is playing politics here. They figure the outrage over fining the residents for water use will be all the distraction they need to cut out all but the most minimal effects of a moratorium on development. This is all about money. Nothing else. The city wants the big bucks development will bring them so they can continue to fund city employee union cadillac pensions and benefits.

1) John was defending sierra madre city council spending of $36,000 a year - per employee - for sierra madre city employee health benefits.

2) It was stated to John that the city of Monrovia spends $300 - $450 per month - per city of Monrovia City employee health benefits.....If you subtract the $3,000 a month the city of sierra madre pays from the $400 a month Monrovia pays ... that's a difference of $2600 per city employee more which sierra madre pays monthly for health insurance benefits...

I am not happy with the way that the city hall is spending our / my money.

Not per employee. But Sierra Madre does have 5 employees that have health plans that cost more than $30,000 per year. The highest one goes to the Water Superintendent. $37,800. Why is that do you think? Oh, and check out the cool charts. They will be handed out at Tuesday evening's City Council meeting.http://sierramadretattler.blogspot.com/2014/03/unanswered-measure-uut-question-why.html

the message was that sierra madre pays $36k per employee for health benefits.

it was not our intent to state that all 80 sierra madre emplyees are paid $36k per year.

please advise what kind of health insurance you can purchase for $36k per year?and why in the hell should our sierra madre residents have to pay $36k a year for those Cadillac health insurance policies....?

So our waterless water company should give him the highest city health care plan in California? Because he's the only guy in the department that knows his job? Wild. No wonder our water rates are up 100% in 5 years. Good to know!

FYI...Please be reminded that if you choose... you can use your grey water for exterior use (shower & laundry water) the plants will love it! that's about the last thing city hall can not take away from you!

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You Can Compare Sierra Madre's Utility Tax Rates

The MuniServices.com site has a feature that allows you to compare Sierra Madre's utility tax rates with those of other cities. This nifty little service lets you see not only just how high our utility tax rates are, but that they are also the highest in California. Click here and have at it.

Preserve Sierra Madre Yard Signs Now Available

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From time to time people get in touch with me hoping to place an ad on The Tattler. Until now I have gently explained that no advertising is accepted here because it would detract from the volunteer nature of the project. However, I have now reconsidered, and this blog will take advertising, but only at what I call a "motivated monthly rate." Here is that rate schedule:

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Banner ---- $2,500

If these rates seem reasonable to you, then please contact us at sierramadretattler@gmail.com Thanks!

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Neuroblast Films

If you're interested in Sierra Madre politics (and if you're reading The Tattler chances are pretty good that you are), you owe it to yourself to check out the Neuroblast Films site on You Tube. It features some key filmed moments from recent Sierra Madre history, all from the perspective of those who love the place. Be sure to rate the films and leave comments. Click on "videos" to see the entire inventory, there is a lot available. Another fine website for you to enjoy!http://www.youtube.com/neuroblastfilms

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MVN Columnist Rich Johnson Speaks Out On the Importance of the Sierra Madre Tattler

"My last submission supported the blog in that it provides another viewpoint on issues of interest to Sierra Madreans. If it is right or wrong is immaterial. If it gets you involved in the process of being a citizen it is important."

(6/18/11)

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Quotes On Government

"During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act." - George Orwell

"What we call civilized society is in reality a vast insane asylum held together at the points of guns." - Vito Caporale

"In our civilization, and under our form of government, intelligence is so highly honored that it is rewarded by exemption from the cares of office." - Ambrose Bierce

"It is better to deserve honors and not have them than to have them and not deserve them." - Mark Twain

"I would rather lose in a cause that will someday win, than win in a cause that will someday lose." - Woodrow Wilson

"The single most exciting thing you encounter in government is competence, because it's so rare." - Daniel P. Moynihan

"There's no trick to being a humorist when you have the whole government working for you." - Will Rogers

"My experience in government is that when things are non-controversial and beautifully coordinated, there is not much going on." - John F. Kennedy

"Ask not what the government can do for you. Ask why it doesn't. - Gerhard Kocher

"The best minds in government? If any were, business would hire them away." - Ronald Reagan

"Government is not the doctor. It is the disease." - H.S. Ferns

"A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government." - Edward Abbey

"Every decent man is ashamed of the government he lives under." - Henry Luis Mencken

"The best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter." - Winston Churchill

"The most important political office is that of private citizen." - Louis Brandeis

"Democracy consists of choosing your dictators, after they've told you what it is you think you want to hear." - Alan Coren

"You don't pay taxes - they take taxes." - Chris Rock

Readings

"Take stock of those around you and you will ... hear them talk in precise terms about themselves and their surroundings, which would seem to point to them having ideas on the matter. But start to analyse those ideas and you will find that they hardly reflect in any way the reality to which they appear to refer, and if you go deeper you will discover that there is not even an attempt to adjust the ideas to this reality. Quite the contrary: through these notions the individual is trying to cut off any personal vision of reality, of his own very life. For life is at the start a chaos in which one is lost. The individual suspects this, but he is frightened at finding himself face to face with this terrible reality, and tries to cover it over with a curtain of fantasy, where everything is clear. It does not worry him that his 'ideas' are not true, he uses them as trenches for the defense of his existence, as scarecrows to frighten away reality." - Jose Ortega y Gasset

"Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced." - Soren Kierkegaard

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